Effects of vine cutting position and leaf harvesting on yield of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas. L)
- Author
- Chitonho, Innocent Shingirai.
- Title
- Effects of vine cutting position and leaf harvesting on yield of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas. L)
- Abstract
-
There is a great variation in yield of storage roots and vines of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas. L) among farmers due to use of different cutting positions and vine pruning levels. This study was carried out to establish cutting position and the vine pruning level that can give smallholder farmers optimum yields of storage roots and vines. The study was conducted in a 3x3 factorial arrangement in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCDB) with three replications. Treatments included cutting positions at three different portions, apical, middle and basal and pruning at three levels, 0%, 25% and 50% respectively. Pruning was done 50 days post-planting and roots were harvested 100 days after planting. The two measurements were summed up to give the total vine weight of sweet potato. Storage root length, diameter and weight were measured at harvesting. Storage root length indicated significant difference (p<0.05) among cutting positions with highest mean length obtained from apical and middle cuttings while the lowest was obtained from basal cuttings. Storage root diameter, root weight and vine weight indicated significant interaction (p<0.05) of cutting position and vine pruning level. Highest mean root diameter and root weight were obtained from middle cuttings and 25% vine pruning level. The lowest mean root diameter and weight were obtained from basal cutting and 50% vine pruning level. Highest vine weight was recorded from middle cutting and 50% vine pruning level, with the lowest being recorded from basal cutting and 0% vine pruning level. Apical and middle stem cuttings can be recommended for farmers to obtain higher yields.
KEY WORDS: Ipomoea batatas, Smallholder farmer, Cutting position, vine pruning level
- Date
- 2022
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Sweet potato production
- Vine cutting
- Leaf pruning
- Supervisor
- Kamota, A
- Item sets
- Department of Crop Sciences
Part of Effects of vine cutting position and leaf harvesting on yield of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas. L)